Martin Saber Takedown Recurve Bow
The Martin Saber is a takedown bow that has been manufactured by Martin Archery. They have produced some excellent bows and this one is no different. This bow is recommended by many archers because of the build quality, the feel and the price point. Below you will find a complete review, helping you to decide if its a good choice for you and your needs.
If you are looking for a low cost bow that also looks great, the Martin Saber recurve bow is perfect. This bow is perfect for beginners and has entry level accessories to help you get started, these can however be upgraded so the bow is also a great option for experienced archers.
- Quality: 4 / 5
- Assembly: 3 / 5
- Shooting: 5 / 5
- Price: 5 / 5
Specs
The Martin Saber is a great takedown recurve bow, below are the stats;
Draw weights in lbs: 29-55
Brace height in inches: 6.75 – 7.5
Weight: 3.5 lbs
AMO Length: 64
Max Draw: 30
Riser: Metal – Aluminum
Limbs: Laminated Wood & Black Fiberglass
Price: Low
R/L Handed: Right hand Only
Pros
- Durable Riser
- Comfortable To Hold
- Smooth Draw
- Accurate Shooting
Cons
- Right Hand Only
- Cheap Arrow Rest
Martin Saber Takedown Recurve Bow Buyers Guide
What Exactly Do You Get?
If you decide to buy the Martin Saber, you will receive;
- Riser
- Limbs
- Arrow Rest
- String
- Owner’s Manual
- Warranty
It’s worth noting that you do not get arrows, you will therefore need to find the best arrows for you.
NOTE: A bow stringer is also not included, make sure you do not string the bow without using a stringer as this could void your warranty.
The Riser
The riser on the Martin Saber is actually very good quality for the price, it’s made from aluminum and to me looks like a very modern/futuristic bow. You will find the riser is very light weight to hold and is also made to be durable, so should last you a while.
Unlike some bows they can vibrate quite a bit, this one has rubber balls built into the riser which help to reduce the vibration experienced when releasing your arrow.
One of the things I really like about the Saber from Martin Archery is the grip, they use a Thermal Elite Grip. It has been specifically designed to fit comfortable in your hand so it is not only comfortable but also easy to grip. For me I always struggle with my hand slipping in the summer due to the heat, this grip features rubber sections to prevent that.
Summary of The Riser
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Vibration Dampeners
- Comfortable Grip
- Rubber Sections To Avoid Hand Slipping
The Limbs
The limbs like the riser are also very durable and unlike some alternatives do not start to bend as time goes by. The materials used to make the limbs are laminated wood with fiberglass, some people have mentioned the sides can be a little rough but this can be corrected with lightly sanding them.
The Martin Saber is a takedown recurve bow, so they can be simply removed by unscrewing two screws. Compared to some bows it is actually fairly simple to take down, in fact you should be able to take it down in as little as a minute or two. When built up the bow is fairly large, however when you take it apart you are able to transport this bow incredibly easily.
Summary of the Limbs
- Durable
- Made from High Quality Materials
- Easy To Takedown
The String
The string that comes with the bow is enough to help you get started, and will generally last awhile if you keep it in good condition. It is an entry level string so eventually you might want to upgrade it. As the limbs are reinforced, you could upgrade to Fast Flight Flemish strings, which is something I would recommend eventually.
How Does It Shoot?
The Martin Saber is a fairly heavy bow at 3.5 lbs, you might therefore experience it tilting forward a little. For the price it is not too noisy to shoot, however is it noisier when compared to other bows that are slightly more expensive. When shooting I did notice a very small amount of vibration when compared to some alternatives, which did improve the overall accuracy of the shot.
As mentioned already in the riser section, the grip was really comfortable. My hand seemed to fit perfectly and unlike some with continued use my hand didn’t slip, this is thanks to the rubber sections.
The Look Of The Bow
I personally like the look of the Martin Saber bow, it looks futuristic and reminds me of the bows that Stephen Amell uses in Arrow. There are two colors of risers and out of the two I do prefer the black as I think the limbs suit this better.
Assembling The Martin Saber
When you receive the bow the limbs and riser will be detached and these will need to be put together, which is actually pretty easy. You simply need to tighten the two screws through the limbs into the riser and then tighten with the supplied allen key, some have commented that it can be a little fiddly.
You will then need to string the bow, you should use a bow stringer to do this properly. If you do it without a stringer, it could damage the bow and will results in your voiding your warranty.
PROS
- Durable Riser
- Comfortable To Hold
- Smooth Draw
- Accurate Shooting
- Great Value For Money
CONS
- Low Quality Arrow Rest – May Need Replacing In The Future
- Right Hand Only
Accessories
The Martin Saber has all of the accessory points pre-drilled, so you can add all needed accessories. Depending on where you buy this bow, you should get a arrow rest and a bow stringer.
As mentioned above the arrow rest is fairly cheap and was probably chosen to keep the price range down, as the rest of the bow is high quality. Now the arrow rest won’t break straight away, it should last a good year. It is made from rubber and this is why it will either gradually wear away or even move around from time to time.
It does also come with a bow stringer, allowing you to properly string your bow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most common questions asked by those that are interested in the Martin Saber Recurve Bow.
1. Can I Purchase HIgher Weight Limbs?
Yes it is possible to purchase higher draw weight limbs from Martin Archery, these should fit your saber.
2. Can You Hunt With This Bow?
Yes you can, as long as you use one of the higher draw weights. You would want to go for the 40 lb one or higher, depending on what you wanted to hunt. It is worth noting that this bow is pretty long at 64”, so it might be a little big for some. For the price it is fairly quiet and has low vibration but compared to more intermediate bows, it might not be ideal.
About Martin Archery
Martin Archery is one of those archery manufactures that have been around for a long time and have built up a great reputation. Since 1951 they have been producing all types of bows from recurve like this one to compound bows, they really know their stuff when it comes to bow making.
Conclusion
Overall the Martin Saber is a very good recurve bow, it’s made from high quality materials from a well-known and reputable company. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced archer, you will get years of enjoyment out of this bow. If you are on a budget then with this you do get a lot of bow for a small amount of money.
Alternatives
This is a good bow but it might not be the right bow for you, there are so many great bows and if you feel it is not check out my best list. If you are unsure as to exactly what to look for, this guide is perfect for you.
Click Here To See My Recommendations
I hope that this review has helped clear up any questions you might have on the Martin Saber, if you do have any comments or any additional questions feel free to post them in the comments below.

XQMART Takedown Recurve Bow and Arrow
- Metal riser with Thermal V Grip
- Mounting points for sight, rest, quiver
- 2 color choices